Astia Honors Pam Marrone with Clean Tech Innovator Award

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 17 /PRNewswire/ — At its 4th Annual Awards Dinner on
November 20th, Astia will recognize exceptional women innovators and the
investors and mentors who champion their successes. Marrone Organic
Innovations is proud to announce that its Founder and CEO, Pam Marrone, will
be among those honored by Astia as the recipient of the 2008 Clean Tech
Innovator Award.

Astia is a unique, not-for-profit whose distinct focus and mission is to
foster the full participation and leadership of women in entrepreneurship and
as accelerators of high growth businesses. Astia provides innovative programs
that ensure companies gain access to capital, achieve and sustain high-growth,
and develop the executive leadership of the women on the founding team

“With 3% of venture capital being invested in women CEOs and only 5% more
going to women founders, the cause to celebrate those who succeed is self
evident,” stated Sharon Vosmek, CEO of Astia. “We’re proud to spotlight Pam
Marrone as the exceptional and successful entrepreneur that she is.”

“Astia played an important role in my quest for constructive mentoring and
venture funding. The quality of the women and the companies participating in
Astia’s programs is second to none,” said Pam Marrone upon learning of the
accolade. “I am very honored to be selected for Astia’s Cleantech Innovator
award.”

Marrone Organic Innovations (MOI) is Pam Marrone’s third entrepreneurial
endeavor in a career devoted to natural and integrated pest management
solutions for agriculture. MOI discovers, develops and markets effective and
environmentally responsible natural products that focus on unmet needs for
weed, pest and plant disease management.

Earlier this year, MOI successfully closed its Series B $11 million
private round of financing led by Stuart Mill Venture Partners with
co-investment from Contrarian Group. There was also significant participation
from Series A investors One Earth Capital, Saffron Hill Ventures, Clean
Pacific Ventures, Wavepoint Ventures and prominent local angel investors
(including members of the Sierra and Sacramento Angels). The financing is
enabling MOI to fund the development and commercialization of its pipeline of
more than six natural pest management products.

Marrone Organic Innovations discovers, develops and markets effective and
environmentally responsible products that fill unmet needs for weed, disease
and pest management. Through a combination of in-licensed technology and its
own R&D, MOI develops products that target markets needing better and safer
solutions. MOI’s own R&D finds naturally occurring microorganisms from unique
habitats and develops them into products for controlling insects, weeds,
nematodes and plant diseases. MOI has an impressive pipeline of new products,
including two insecticides, two herbicides and a product for controlling
invasive zebra and quagga mussels in waterways. MOI currently markets
GreenMatch(R) Burndown Herbicide for weed control in organic crop production
and Regalia(R) for control of fungal and bacterial diseases of both food and
ornamental crops.

Astia is a unique, not-for-profit, with a distinct focus and mission — to
foster the full participation and leadership of women in entrepreneurship and
as accelerators of high growth businesses. Astia provides innovative programs
that ensure companies gain access to capital, achieve and sustain high-growth,
and develop the executive leadership of the women on the founding team

Headquartered in Silicon Valley with programs in Silicon Valley, New York,
and London, Astia is well positioned to work with start-ups from around the
globe as they access venture capital. Astia’s Venture Conferences, which
commenced in 2003, have attracted 124 presenting companies that have raised
over $500 million and have returned over $100 million to investors through
M&A. The Astia conference has differentiated itself with an exceptional
screening and qualification process that has resulted in greater than 60% of
the presenting companies achieving funding or an exit within one year of the
conference.